Ogun ready to partner with genuine investors, says Commissioner

The Ogun State Government says it will continue to partner, encourage and accommodate only genuine investors who intend to invest largely for the socio-economic growth of the State.

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru

The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, made this assertion while playing host to some prospective investors from Brazil, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the State capital.

Ashiru said various investors have been signifying interest to invest in the State, saying that the first ethanol factory in Nigeria was commissioned last year in State, which presently producing 5,000 tons of ethanol per year through uses of cassava.

He assured the prospective investors of 40 million customers’ patronage across State if the company start operation, adding that some companies using ethanol were situated in State, which includes gin companies, brewery, pharmaceutical and many others.

“We are assuring you of full support in establishing your company here, we have over 58 companies in Ogun State, the State is an industrial hub and investment destination of choice which many investors show interest to establish and most of the companies deals with ethanol, that’s why we are assuring of 90 percent patronage from other company”, the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner said the genuineness of any investors who wish to situate it’s company in the State would determine how far the State Government would work hard to support their programmes and investment drive.

Also Speaking, the leader of the Team, Bigtee Commercial Investment Ltd and Vice President of Tec Agro Brasil, Mr. Gerson Zilio, said the choice of Ogun State was based on the vertile land, which contain of lime stone that vast grow of sugar cane for the production of various kind of sugar and ethanol in the State attract the company.

He said the Company has the capacity to produce 245 thousand tons of ethanol, sugar per year, saying that if a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is reached, indigenous labour would be used for the construction of the Company.

Gerson said the Company would employ more than 2,500 indigene of the State for direct employment and 3,500 indirect employment opportunities, emphasising that the Company had the capacity to produce different kind of sugars and ethanol for the Country through extraction from sugar cane.

“This will be an opportunity for the unemployed graduates in the State as the establishment of the company will add more value to the State, increase its IGR and also create employment opportunities for our teeming youths”, Gerson said.

He appreciated the State Government for the warm reception and accorded given to them, he later lauded the on-going infrastructural development across the State as the State mark the 40 years of existence.